KYIV, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Monday its troops had regained more territory on the eastern and southern fronts in the past week of its counteroffensive against Russian forces.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in televised comments that Ukraine had retaken nearly 2 square km (0.77 square mile) of land around the eastern city of Bakhmut, captured by Russia in May after months of fighting.
She later added on the Telegram messaging app that the Ukrainian army had in the past week also recaptured 4.8 square km in the southern Tavria sector.
In her televised comments, Maliar said Ukrainian forces had captured part of the village of Opytne, south of the eastern city of Avdiivka, and had "partial success" near the village of Novomaiorske in the eastern region of Donetsk.
She reported "some success" near the villages of Andriivka and Klishchiivka south of Bakhmut.
Ukrainian troops have regained control of about 49 square km near Bakhmut since the start of the counteroffensive in early June, Maliar said. In the Tavria direction, over 256 square km had been recaptured, she said.
Kyiv has retaken a series of villages and settlements in the counteroffensive, but its soldiers have been hampered by vast Russian minefields and trenches.
Reuters was not able to verify the reports and Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, rarely comments on gains reported by Kyiv.
